Alps Alpine has been granted a patent for an operation detection device. The device includes an electrostatic sensor and a controller that measures the electrostatic capacitance of two conductors. The conductors are arranged in a way that allows the device to detect the presence of an operating body in a specific region. The patent also describes how the capacitance of the conductors changes when the operating body approaches the detection region. GlobalData’s report on Alps Alpine gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Alps Alpine, gesture-based recognition systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Alps Alpine's grant share as of September 2023 was 30%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Operation detection device with electrostatic sensor for detecting operating body
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11773629B2) describes an operation detection device that can be used in various applications, including door handles for vehicles. The device includes an electrostatic sensor housed inside a casing, along with a controller that is connected to two conductors within the sensor. The first conductor is arranged in a detection region, where an operating body is detected, while the second conductor is located in a non-detection region. When the operating body approaches the detection region, the first conductor's electrostatic capacitance increases, while the second conductor's capacitance remains unchanged. In the non-detection region, both conductors' capacitance increases when the operating body approaches, with the increase being approximately equal.
The controller detects the operation of the operating body based on the difference between the electrostatic capacitance detected by the first and second conductors. If the difference value exceeds a predetermined threshold or changes in a positive direction, the controller determines that an operation has been performed by the operating body. Conversely, if the difference value is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold or changes in a negative direction, the controller determines that no operation has been performed.
In the case of a door handle for a vehicle, the operation detection device is integrated into the handle casing, which consists of an inner and outer casing. The device allows for the detection of an operating body, such as a hand, when it approaches the handle along a specific direction. The conductors are arranged side by side in the detection region, with the first conductor's capacitance being greater than the second conductor's capacitance when the operating body is detected. In the non-detection region, the conductors are also arranged side by side, but in a different direction. Here, both conductors' capacitance increases when the operating body approaches, with the increase being approximately equal.
The controller in the door handle detects the operation of the operating body based on the difference between the electrostatic capacitance detected by the first and second lock conductors. By subtracting the value of the second lock conductor's capacitance from the first lock conductor's capacitance, the controller obtains a difference value that is used to determine whether an operation has been performed.
Overall, this patent describes an operation detection device that can be used in various applications, including door handles for vehicles. The device utilizes electrostatic sensors and conductors to detect the presence and movement of an operating body, allowing for the detection of operations and actions.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
